Internet ban imposed in city to protect lives: CM

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Tuesday the government imposed ban on internet during the violence in June because human lives were precious.
In reply to a question by Ampareen Lyngdoh of the Congress, the chief minister said in the Assembly that the ban on mobile internet was imposed in June to contain false rumours circulated on social media which had the potential threat to public safety and aggravate the already sensitive situation.
The government had banned the internet during the unrest over Harijan Colony issue.
To supplementary questions, the chief minister said the ban on internet was not an infringement of Article 19 (a) of the Constitution of India He said the government is considering using other legal methods to control law and order in the state in future.
After Ampareen asked the chief minister to elaborate on the legal methods, the chief minister said technology will be available legally to block Facebook and WhatsApp for disseminating rumours and as far as WhatsApp is concerned, the administrator is responsible for inflammatory messages.
On the cost impact of the internet ban, the chief minister admitted that there was impact but added that maintaining law and order was priority for the government.
“But it is difficult to assess the cost impact in the context of government’s efforts to protect individuals. At that point of time every life was important for us though it had affected tourism and use of internet,” he said.
To a supplementary question by P T Sawkmie of the Congress on the arrests made by the police, the chief minister said there were many instances of rumour mongering and police acted against the move.
To a question by Congress’s Miani D Shira on the problems faced by the students as they had to go to Guwahati after the internet ban, the chief minister said only mobile internet was banned.